Form for drying hosiery and the like



Jan. 19, 1932, w. BOCK I FORM FOR DRYING HOSIERY AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 8, 1929 INVENTOR- T/VzZiuZm 1300]:

2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES Jan. 19, 1932. w. BOCK FORM FOR DRYING HOSIERY AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Wilhelm Bock,

ATTORNEYS.

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Patented Jan. 19, 1932 -WILHELM 'BQGK,'- OF GWYNEDD, IPEliT li SYLVAN 1A, ASSIGNOR "IO TUBBO BIKE-TING amonrnn COMPANY,- or nhnsnazin,

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. 3913M E DBYIBIGTQHQSIERY; AN

App licat 'on filed October 8, 19 29. -cr ial Nq. .398, 1 28.

tained in lengthwise tension during the drybodies and c in cried b 1 ravit influenced tensionin b lc: p 1, V p i z: members which are Iree to slide on the lorm i mpable to the open ends of the mounted .sto l1 The chief aim of my invention is to simplify and improve the construction of drying forms of the kind referredto with a view toward easing their operation and control,

and toward securing greater uniformity inv the finish of the stockings withassurance against ,marring of the fabric by the grlppinelements.associated with thetenslon ng members.

Qther ob'ects and attendant advanta es 01" I this invention will be maniiestfrom the deis a view of my improveddrying form in side tailed description following in coordination with the attached drawingswhereoi Fig. I

elevation.

. F1g ..II is a fragmentary rear edgeelevation of the form, viewed as indicated by the ,arrows II-II in Fig. I, and drawn to. a

somewhat larger scale.

,IX in Fig. vnI.

FigIII is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken, as indicated bythe. arrows-- III-III in Fig. I.

" Fig. IV is transverse section taken as m- "cheated by the arrows IV-alV- in'Fig. I.

Fig. V is another horizontai cross section taken at a lower plane as indicated by-thearrows V-V in Fig. I.

a VI is a. view like Fig. I showing the tensioning member and the parts associated with it in difierent positions.

- Fig. V II is a fragmentary detail view taken as indicated by the. arrows VII+VII in Fig. VI.

Fig. VIII is aview similar to Fig. I showing a modification of my lnvention.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary edge elevationof the, modified form on somewhat larger scale, viewed as indicated bythearrowsIX- Fig. VIII: while,

FiggX is a cross section taken as indicated by the arrows in Fig'. VIII.

Fig; XI is a fragmentary detail section taken as indicated by the arrows IiIf-LKI in '7 Figs. and XIII are perspective'views"" of certain parts embodiedin-the nodiiied form oi myinvention.

Referring first toliigs. I-"VIIof these illustrations, the form shown comprises a profilebody 15, which, in the present iiistance, is fashioned fromcomparativeiythin sheet metal to-the configuration of a stocking, and is secured at the bottom in thelongitudinal groove 16 of a supporting, bracket 5 member 17. As shownin Figsfl and III?" this bracket 17 is fittedlat opposite sides with rollers 18 that engage opposing hor zontal channelralls' 19 whereby the form 1s gu ded alon a definite course incident to progresb l p HO sionthrough'the heated enclosure or chainher of a drying machine, the bottom ofsueh enclosure'beingindicated at 20 in Fig; III. The bracket finember 17 is moreover formed with a downwardextremityor arm 21 which depends through aslotted guideway 22 immediateiy below the rails'19 formed between parallel angle bars 23 which assist in sup porting the bottom QO ofthehcat ed enclosure, said arm having alateral lug 24Lto engage a progressingsprocket chain 25 running hori zohtallybeneath the heated enclosure. At

opposite sides, the bracket member 1'?" is fitted .with' laterally extenc lingv wing pieces 26 adapted to overlap the slotted guideway 22, and, inconjuIlQti Il withsi nilar wing pieces on nei hboring forms (indicated in dot and dash lines atF, F in I) in a series, to constitute a continuous sealing means by which heatedair isprevented "fromescaping downward through said siottedguideway.

"F or the purpose of inducinglengthwise tension on the stocking S mounted onjthe form body 15 during the drying period, the form isprovided with a g f Yity infiuenced tensioning member 27 which is slidable up anddownon the lower. portionofthe form body 15. As shown in Figs. 'IIIV, this tensioning member comprises a pair of side pieces f2 8,and a connecting piece 29 which loo engages transversely through a vertical slot 30 in the form body near the lower end. The component parts of the tensioning member are secured together at intervals by screws or rivets 31; and it is to be particularly noted that the side pieces 28 meet at opposite ends in line with the beveled vertical side edges of the form so that the tensioning member 27 extends completel about the form body 15, as best seen in Fig. V. It will also be observed that the top edges of the side pieces 28 of the tensioning member 17 are bevelled off inward toward the form body, as at 32, with preclusion of sharp corners or points likely to catch the fabric of a stocking as the open end of the latter is drawn down over said tensioning member in clothing the form, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The function of securing the tensioning member 27 to the stocking is relegated to a pair of gripping elements 33 comprising padlike members 34 which are secured to the upper ends of supporting arms 35 by means 0 olts 36, said arms being mounted so as to be swingable laterally toward and away from the form body 15 about pivot axes 37 supported in ears on the side pieces 28 of the tensioning member 27. From Figs. III and IV it will be observed that the pad-like members 34 consist of perforated metallic plates 38 enveloped by padding material 39, for example of soft felt or the like. As shown in Figs. I and IV, the members 34 are somewhat wider than the tensioning member 27 but cross-sectionall conformative therewith over the regions 0 mutual contact so as to clam the margin of the open end of the stocking S all around against said tensioning member. The felt covering 39 of the padlike members 34 will obviously insure firm engagement of the stocking S without danger of marring of the fabric; while the perforations in the plates 38 permit escape of moisture from the area of the fabric covered by said pad-like members during drying.

The provisions for actuating the gripping elements 33 include a forked lever 40 with pivotal connection at 41 on the tensioning member 27, said lever being provided with upward and downward arms 42, 43 having laterally projecting lugs 44, 44 adapted to be alternately engaged, incident to travel of the form along the rails 19, by means, not shown, in swinging the forked lever 40 on its axis. From Fig. III it will be noted that the fork extremities of the lever 40 cooperate with inclined surfaces 45 on the arms 35 of the gripping elements 33 incident to upward movement from the dot-and-dash line position to the full line position in causing said gripping elements to close in upon the tensioning member 27, this operation being in opposition to spring fingers 46 which tend to urge said gripping members apart.

As a means for elevating the tensioning member 27 to facilitate its attachment to the stockings on the form, I provide a lever 47 which is fixed to an axis 48 with journal support in an arm 49 reaching at an angle from the bracket member 17. This lever 47 is designed to cooperate with a stud projection 50 on one of the side plates 28 of the tensioning member 27, but normally it rests on the upper edge of the base piece 17 as shown in Figs. I and III. Secured on the axis 48 with the lever 47 is a short tappet arm 51 arranged to be tripped by a lug attached to one of the rails 19. Thus, as the form travels along the rails 19, the tappet arm 51, in engaging the lug 52 induces clockwise swinging of the lever 47 whereby the tensioning member 27 is elevated to the position shown in Fig. VI. After being so lifted, the tensioning member is temporarily held locked by a spring latch 53 shownto the best advantage in Figs. V I and VII, said latch yielding to depression into a recess 54 in the form body during elevation of the tensioning member, in a manner obvious from the illustrations. During the time of elevation of the tensioning member it is to be understood that the gripping elements 33 occupy the open position, that is to say, the position shown in dotand-dash lines in Fig. III and in full lines in Fig. VI, to permit drawing of the open end of the stocking S down over the tensioning member 27. After this has been accomplished the gripping elements are closed in upon the tensioning member 27 through automatic upward swinging of the forked arm 40 as previously explained. The tensioning member 27 is subsequently released through engagement of the spring latch 53 by a finger such as shown at 55 in Fig. VII. Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the finger 55 in timed relation to close the gripping elements Upon emergence of the form from the heated enclosure of the drying machine the forked arm 40 is operated to permit opening of the. gripping elements 33 and release of the tensioning member 27, so that the latter drops away from the stocking S. To check such fall of the tensioning member I equip the bracket member 17 with a cushioning spring 56 shown in Figs. I and III, the shock of impact being thus absorbed with avoidance of injury to any of the parts.

In order that the form may be suited to drying hosiery of diii'erent sizes I provide interchangeable toe pieces such as shown at 57 in Fig. I, of open configuration. Prop-er registry and alignment of the toe piece 57 with the form body 15 is insured through the use of dowels 58 and its displacement during mounting and removing of the stockings S is prevented by a screw 59 engaging through a cross bar 60 of the toe piece 57 and taking into the contiguous end of the form body 15. As shown, the screw 59 is readily accessible within the opening ofthe toe piece 57 for convenience of efiecting interchanges.

' In the modified embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. VIII-Q1111, the form body'15a is made as a casting to. open configuration throughout, it being supported as in this case comprises a quadrangular plate 29a which is grooved along opposite side edges for sliding engagement with the ver ticals 64 of the open form body in the lower portion of the latter. Associated with the tensioning member 27a are complemental end pieces 65, 66 which are separately illustrated in perspective in Figs. XII and XIII. The end piece 65 has a solid bottom portion 67 to between the bearing lugs 68 VH1 XI) for the forked lever 4060, it being pierced as shown for passage of the axis pin 41a and thus held in the assemblage by said pin. The upwardly extending tongue 69 or the end piece 65 is fluted and otherwise'conformative to the corresponding vertical 64: of the "form body 15a, see Fig. X, and thus constitutes a continuation of the plate 29a of the tensioning member 27a around that vertical of said form body. The end piece 66 performs a similar function at the opposite end of the tensioning member 27a. Accordingly it has a fluted portion 70 which is contormative with the opposite vertical 6% of the form body integrally formed with a bifurcation 71 which is adapted to straddle the Width of the plate 29a of the tensioning member 2704, and to be secured to the latter by screws or other fastening means 72. Thus the tensioning member 27a provides a continuous surface about the form body 15a against which a margin of the open end of the stocking S is clamped all around by the pad-like members 3% of the gripping elements 33a precisely as explained in connection with the first embodiment of my invention. Variations in the stretch induced by the tensioning members 27 or 27a may be had through use of auxiliary weights such as shown at 73. These weights 73 may be secured to the tensioning member 27a by screws or other suitable fastening means 7 at.

All corresponding parts not specifically mentioned but illustrated in Figs. VIII to XIII are identified by the same reference numerals previously employed with addition of the subscript a to preclude necessity for separate description.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In drying means for hosiery and the like, a form with a longitudinal slot; a slicing gravity influenced tensioning member adapted to. be overlapped by the margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on the form, said tensioning member comprising a pair of side plates with an intermediate connecting piece engaging transversely through the longitudinal slot in the form; and clamp means to secure the tensioning member to the stocking.

2. In drying means for hosiery and the like, a profile form including a portion affording a longitudinal slot; a gravity influenced tensioning member extending completely about the lower portion of the form with capacity for vertical sliding movement in the slot aforesaid and adapted to be overlapped by margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; and conformative gripping elements to clamp the margin of the stocking entirely around the tensioning member.

3. In drying means for hosiery and the like, a sheet metal form with a slotted portion; a gravity influenced tensioning member extendin completely about the slotted portion of the form with capacity for sliding movement thereon and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stoclring mounted on said form; and con formative gripping elements enveloped in yielding cushioning surfacing to clamp the margin of a stocking all around to the tensioning member.

4. In drying means for hosiery and the like, a sheet metal form with a longitudinally lotted lower portion; a gravity influenced tensioning member extending completely about the slotted lower portion of the form with capacity for vertical sliding movement thereon and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; and conformativc gripping elements consisting of perforated plates, enveloped by cushioning material to clamp the margin of a stocking wholly around said tensioning member.

5. In drying means for hosiery and the like, asheet metal form; a gravity influenced tensioning member slidable vertically on the form and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; latch means yieldable to depression in the form for temporarily holding the tensioning member elevated to facilitate attachment to the stocking; and means to trip said la ch means whereby the tensioning member is freed to gravity influence.

6. In drying means for hosiery and the like; a profile form; progressing means for said form; a gravity influenced tensioning member slidable vertically on the form and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; means operative by an abutment in the path of travel of the progressing means for elevating the tensioning member to facilitate attachment thereof to the stocking; latch means to hold the tensioning member so ele- "ated temporarily; and means for tripping the latch means to release the tensioning member.

7. In drying means for hosiery, a profile form; a gravity influenced tensioning member vertically slidable on the form and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; means for temporarily supporting the tensioning member elevated to facilitate attachment thereof to the stocking; means for releasing the tensioning means; and cushioning means on the form to check the fall of the tensioning means when released.

8. In drying means for hosiery, a profile form; a gravity influenced tensioning member vertically slidable on the form and ad apted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; means for temporarily holding the tensioning member elevated to facilitate attachment thereof about the stocking; means for releasing the tensioning means; and a re-coil spring in the form to check the drop of the tensioning means when released.

9. In drying means for hosiery and the like, a profile form; a gravity influenced tensioning member slidable vertically on the form and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; and means for elevating the tensioning means to facilitate attachment thereof to the stocking, said means including a lever having pivotal attachment on the form for cooperation with a projection on the tensioning member.

10. In dr ing means for hosiery and the like; a pro le form; progressing means for said form; a gravity influenced tensioning member slidable vertically on the form and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; a lever having pivotal attachment on the form for cooperation with a projection on the tensioning member to elevate the latter for attachment to the stocking; and means in the path of travel of the progressing means to actuate said lever.

11. In drying means for hosiery and the like, a sheet metal form including a. slotted portion; a gravity influenced tensioning member surrounding and slidable over the form slotted portion and adapted to be overlapped by a margin of the open end of a stocking mounted on said form; conformative clamps for detachably securing the tensioning memher to the stocking; and provisions on the tensioning member enabling application of auxiliary weights to vary the tension induced.

12. In drying means for hosiery and the like; a profile form; a supporting member for the form having laterally projecting rollers engaging in suitable guide rails; said member also having a depending portion co-acting with a slotted guideway for the form; and wing pieces attached to opposite sides of the supporting member to overlap the slot in the guideway.

13. In means for drying hosiery and the like, a sheet metal form embodying leg and foot portions, a removable toe section of open formation with a cross-component for engagement with the end of the foot portion, whereby the form may be adapted to drying hosiery of different sizes, dowels intermediate the foot portion and toe section to determine accurate registry and alignment thereof, and screw means passing through an aperture in a cross component aforesaid engaging in the contiguous end of the form foot portion to secure said parts against accidental displacement incident to mountin or removing the hosiery.

i-l. A. form for drying and treating hosiery comprising an open framework, a slidable weight member including connected components adapted to transversely embrace portions of the fran'iework between which it is fitted, said weight member under the influence of gravity drawing the goods being dried treated uniformly over the form, and elements removably attachable to the weight member to vary its tensionin capacity.

In testimony whereof, I Iiave hereunto signed my name at Lansdale, Pennsylvania, this 4th day of October, 1929.

VVILHELM BOOK. 

